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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 120 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: prune · can · key · branch · trunk · game · charge · track

  1. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  5. That was a fun ________________.
  6. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  7. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  12. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  23. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  24. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. game — wild animals
  2. charge — in control
  3. track — a song
  4. prune — to trim
  5. game — a match
  6. trunk — of a car
  7. track — a path
  8. charge — electricity
  9. trunk — of a tree
  10. key — for a lock
  11. prune — the fruit
  12. prune — to trim
  13. can — a tin
  14. can — to be able to
  15. charge — a price
  16. can — a tin
  17. branch — of a tree
  18. key — in music
  19. branch — a division
  20. key — the most important part
  21. track — to keep track
  22. trunk — of an elephant
  23. game — a kind of play
  24. branch — of a bank

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com